S3 Versus Focus RS

oops, this thread is about Focus RS's and S3's.....

...[quick, think of something on topic]...

Oh yeh, what happened to the Press saying Focus RS's tramlined like crazy and were a big handful?
 
ianysm said:
Oh yeh, what happened to the Press saying Focus RS's tramlined like crazy and were a big handful?
Click to expand...

Maybe the press were limp wristed youngsters who had never driven non-power assisted cars before and were used to twiddling the featherlight steering with their manicured fingers?
The focus RS isn't that bad...it's certainly better than cars of old with no PS and the diff is 'active' for sure...but not overly so.
My Golf with a Quaife is no better or worse.
 
Westle said:
What's the DC5 like in comparison?
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More power, better brakes...etc, etc. But better?
I'm not sure.,..not as delicate for me. Good...just not quite as sweet as a DC2.
They were just a bit special.
Maybe it was just that the DC2 was so perfectly balanced between chassis, power and braking? Not sure...
The DC5 is a fine car...but it's no DC2.
 
Ess_Three said:
Maybe the press were limp wristed youngsters who had never driven non-power assisted cars before and were used to twiddling the featherlight steering with their manicured fingers?
The focus RS isn't that bad...it's certainly better than cars of old with no PS and the diff is 'active' for sure...but not overly so.
My Golf with a Quaife is no better or worse.
Click to expand...

I read somewhere that a change of tires and tracking can eliminate alot of it?

I missed out back in my motorsport days when Ford were an engine supplier for us they had a day of ragging high performance Fords around (Focus RS, ST170, Mondeo ST220, etc etc) and i was on Holiday that week!! Damn!
 
In response to previous posts my old RS focus ran 302 BHP ,with the following mods,

Militec Manifold
DE-CAT
Militec Zorst
Bluefin SuperChip
Uprated actuator upto 21psi
K+N GEN 2
Uprated inlet pipe

was an animal lol will have to get the S3 to a similiar spec because standard power (225bhp) will just not do !!!
The only issue was traction in 1st and 2nd gear in the dry but once rolling i left any car i had a play with lol
 
Whilst on the subject of Honda's My S3 vs DC2, I guessing we are both in 2nd gear rolling drag, I'm carrying a bit of ballast in the form of a passenger and running 19" rims(making the excuses first) both floor it from 20mph onwards, he edges ahead slightly until my turbo spools up and I'm catching him up and his front end is level with my wing mirror, I change upto 3rd now, and his VTEC is kicking in and he's slowly passed me but I can just about hold him off in 3rd gear slowly edging ahead. I have no doubt given more straight tarmac, I would have pulled away slowly, but I backed off when the speedo was approaching 3 figures, and he did the same. Both gave a nod of acknowledgement at the next lights before he turned off. Now that was fun! :racer:

As for DC2 vs DC5, I've driven both, DC5 is a newer car with a newer chassis, it's probably slightly faster than the DC2 around a track in the right hands, but they have refined the formula. When people say it isn't a DC2, they mean it's not as raw, doesn't give you the same excitement, which I can understand. When the VTEC comes in on the DC2, you feel the kick, and hear the sound, the DC5 has just lost a bit of the rawness, the soul if you like, both very nice cars still, and both still commanding premium prices for a reason!
 
i like these threads...... although wouldnt associate myself as being 'cotton wool' about the S3 versus other cars...its a comfortable chariot, thats why im/some of us are chuffed when we have a good tangle with a car that is supposed to beat us.....
 
I didn't realise just how slow the S3 would be when I bought one! Its the first car I've owned with more than 200bhp but since owning an Elise with 160bhp its a completely different experience. I'm getting too old for sitting in a bucket seat 2 inches off the ground reving an engine so much that I cant even hear the radio! I love my S3 for its comfort and its looks, it has a fair bit of poke but I never get dissapointed when I get whipped by another car.

I think i'd have problems fighting off a focus LX let alone an RS :s3addict:
 
Westle said:
I didn't realise just how slow the S3 would be when I bought one!
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I agree that out of the box and as an S series line Audi it is slow and dissapointing...

However i also think you should go and get a remap, you 'should' have the edge on any Focus LX...Lol
 
I agree the S3 in standard form seemed too slow for me (coming from a remapped M3), but back in 2000 210bhp and Quattro was right up there!

Now with a remap its far better. Not quite M3 power but not far off point to point especially when the roads get damp and bumpy. It'll do me!

Not fair though, everytime i find someone to play with my car is either cold or i'm going a different way!
 
We also have to understand that the 8L S3 was released in 1999, it wasn't that slow back then, only the competition has caught up! I mean the new Focus RS has 300 horses going through the front wheels ***, that's just evolution.
 
it is..... i keep looking around at various cars, DC5 is very appealing at the minute, so is the M3...as a package though neither is doing it for me in terms of making me want to swap, just my scenario as i want the full package..... 8P S3's are coming down now and honestly think i will be going that way when i do finally convince myself to spend again
 
I bet you still can't have full power in the wet in low gears though.

Evolution can't beat physics!
 
i think the fact that it rains for 70% of the year means you dont have to make a special effort:lmfao:
 
That very fact is why i wanted something 4wd!

Its finally stopped here for abit but i'm sure more will follow...Decided to walk to work today too!!!
 
As it has been proved though the S3 can be made into a formidable road car. Just need spend abit of time and money on it.

Remap is a good start lol
 
I like verses posts! The old Type R forum i used to frequent banned them...BORING!

Bring on more!!!

How about remapped S3 v Impreza!!!
 
ianysm said:
I like verses posts! The old Type R forum i used to frequent banned them...BORING!

Bring on more!!!

How about remapped S3 v Impreza!!!
Click to expand...

Many different imprezas....sport? Yes...Uk spec...probably...import..doubtfull lol
 
I don't want ******** made up stories, i want real events from people that have genuinly come across other fast cars whether they win or lose, i'm just curious as to the results.

Just a performance car nut!
 
For instance, i had abit of fun with the new shape R32 before i got mine remapped. It was closer than i thought. He started edging away very slowly, but only made about 3 car lengths at higher speeds. Given the same test with my car remapped i don't think i'd have a problem.

Same applies to the last impreza i played with. It was badged as an STI but obviously wasn't one. Nothing in it until after 60mph then he pulled away. Slightly faster than the R32 but again, the S3 when mapped would be interesting. I've not had any fun in it since i mappe dit yet, not for the want of trying!

Can't wait til the Ring in Aug where i can play to my hearts content, legally!
 
I was wondering about how a standard S3 would do against and R32. Just out of interest what map have you got Ian?

I'm going to the ring in May with a Clio 182, a BMW M3, & golf VR6. I'll post back my experiences.
 
nobody ever seems to want to play with me. however when in my cousins a4 1.8tqs they all come out to play!!
 
audi upgrades
Westle said:
I was wondering about how a standard S3 would do against and R32. Just out of interest what map have you got Ian?

I'm going to the ring in May with a Clio 182, a BMW M3, & golf VR6. I'll post back my experiences.
Click to expand...

Its the Custom Code stage 1. Couldn't believe the extra grunt. Transforms the car!

I was very shocked at how close the R32 was. It was 2nd gear out of roudabout along a straight and empty dual carriageway!

I should imagine the M3 (assuming its a well looked after one) will have the legs but he'll need to be a handy driver to stay ahead on the twisties. They require alot more concentration and smoothness to extract the most out of than your standard hot hatch. Most of them out there are all show and no go!!
 
Im at the ring end of august/start of september.

Going with a 320bhp gt4, 300bhp silvia, gsxr600 and my s3.... :beerchug:
 
ianysm said:
I should imagine the M3 (assuming its a well looked after one) will have the legs but he'll need to be a handy driver to stay ahead on the twisties. They require alot more concentration and smoothness to extract the most out of than your standard hot hatch. Most of them out there are all show and no go!!
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He's a good driver, did an 8:04 at the ring with the home straight open and an 8:20ish with it closed.
 
He'll thrash the rest of them then!!! My best is 8:45 on a busy track. The official time for the car by a racing driver is only 8:22 so he must be good or start and stop the clock in a different place?!!!
 
He does bridge to gantry like most and his M3 (Evo 300ish bhp) is stripped and race prepared, the time you mentioned is for a standard motor I think. He is a good driver and has done around 100 laps of the ring so his confidence/balls are quite big. I was with him when he first started to time his laps and we hit an 8:58 on his first attemp which was very busy and we had to slow down for an accident.

When the home straight is open you can hit the bridge at top speed after a flying lap so it takes a lot of time off. You need to do a private day for them to open the home straight though.
 
Cool that must save about 20 secs a lap easily. Yes that time i gave is for a standard E46 M3. Didn't realise it was modified.

Out of interest, whats the quoted S3 lap time? I assume a remapped 8L will do a similar time to a std 8P!
 
The ****** Ford Focus RS is on there though 9:05 :banghead:


Even the Ford Transit (driven by Sabine on Top Gear) is on there but no S3.

I'm selling up. Someone point me to the nearest Ford forum.
 
use the search function, ive played with an impreza :nyah:..... didnt win but wasnt a million miles off
 
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